Authorities along the central coast are bracing for a shipwrecked Chinese oil tanker to begin leaking, VnExpress reported Saturday.

 

Le My Lien, director of the Quang Ngai Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the province’s agencies are keeping an eye out for residue from an oil spill caused by the wreck of Jian Mao 9, which sank earlier this month.

 

“We will cooperate with the Oil Spill Response Center of Central Region to solve any oil spill in Quang Ngai waters immediately,” Lien said.

 

Da Nang’s government on Wednesday asked the city Department of Natural Resources and Environment to team up with the oil spill response center to prepare for a spill.

 

On Monday, the Quang Nam People’s Committee ordered coastal districts to keep an eye on the areas around the wreck site and to prepare necessary forces and equipment.

 

The Jina Mao 9 sank on November 9 around 160 kilometers off Quang Ngai coastline. It was sailing from Malaysia to China, carrying more than 100 tons of petroleum products.

 

A notice from the National Search and Rescue Committee warned about high risks of oil spill posed by the incident.

 

All 26 crew members from the tanker were rescued and brought to the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. On November 12, they were transferred to Chinese Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City.